Martyrs Are Our Heritage, Not

Hoshiarpur/ Daljeet Ajnoha/August 17 : Former Nagar Sudhar Trust chairman Advocate Rakesh Marwaha said the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the nation, including immortal martyr Lala Lajpat Rai and countless others, cannot be repaid, and the country’s 80th year of independence should be dedicated to them. He made the remarks while cleaning around Lajpat Rai’s statue on Railway Road with colleagues and paying tribute.
Advocate Marwaha expressed regret that much of society remains indifferent toward the nation’s martyrs. He pointed to a glaring example: wherever statues of martyrs have been erected, they are often neglected, left unclean, or the memorial sites are misused as parking areas—practices that are entirely unjustifiable. “We must be conscious of our martyrs and avoid causing any disrespect to their memory,” he said, appealing to the authorities to ensure cleanliness and upkeep at all martyr memorials.
Marwaha also criticized political parties, saying governments often come to power in the name of martyrs and then forget them. “Our martyrs are our heritage; they are not objects to be used,” he said.
On the occasion, Advocate Marwaha and his associates cleaned the area around the memorial, washed Lajpat Rai’s statue with water, and offered garlands. Those who paid tribute included former councillor Advocate Rakesh Marwaha, former Urban Congress president Mukesh Dawar (Mintu), tax consultant Rajesh Sharma, accountant Arvind Sharma, Balwinder Saini and Satinder Sharma.